Rabbitohs welcome another Burgess bro

Date: November 11 2012

Brad Walter

TOM BURGESS, the last of the four English brothers to join South Sydney, makes no secret about his ambition with the Rabbitohs next season.

''Imagine all four of us starting in the same team for Souths - that would be something, wouldn't it,'' Burgess told Fairfax in his first interview since arriving in Sydney last weekend. ''It is definitely what we want to do.''

After playing two seasons of Super League under new Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter at Bradford, 20-year-old Tom is aiming to immediately join twin George and older brothers Sam and Luke in the Rabbitohs' top side.

''The chance to play with all three of your brothers is massive,'' he said. ''That is what I have come here to do. I have not come here to play in the reserves.

''If that is what I have to do to prove myself I will do that but I am going to train hard in the pre-season, hopefully play in the trials and impress the coach.''

With Burgess making 23 appearances for the Bulls last season, Potter has no doubt he will be a success in the NRL.

Super League statistics supplied to Fairfax by Opta reveal the young prop is willing to do the hard yards as 175 of his 223 carries were in the first tackle and he averaged 7.5 metres against energised defences to be Bradford's top metre-maker off restarts.

He is also strong defensively, missing only 22 tackles and making 336 in the middle of the ruck.

''Tom is a big strapping young bloke who is going to be hard to stop,'' Potter said. ''Despite his size and his power, he is still very young so I imagine in a year's time he will be hard to handle for any team.

''He is a really good kid who made a real fist of Super League and I am sure at Souths under Michael Maguire he is only going to blossom.''

Burgess revealed he was first approached to join Souths two years ago with the same offer as George. While George accepted the deal, Tom thought it better to establish himself in Super League.

But when Luke - the oldest of the four siblings - signed with the Rabbitohs midway through last year, Tom decided to join the influx of English players to Australia next season.

In addition, Leeds forward James Davies will play for Penrith's under 20s team after impressing Panthers officials in an open trial and the Broncos have offered an opportunity with their Toyota Cup squad to French teenager Ben Garcia, who paid his own way to Australia and played for Queensland Cup winners Wynnum Manly this year.

''When you see what players have done like my brother Luke, who came out here and got straight into the Souths team, it gives you more confidence that if you back yourself it can be done,'' Burgess said.

''I think that is why there are so many young players coming out here. A lot of people know it is a higher standard out here, and it is the lifestyle as well, with sun and the beaches.''

Besides the NRL, English players are hoping to use the Queensland Cup teams as a way into the NRL, with 20-year-old Hull KR second-rower Dave Peterson (Mackay Cutters) and Castleford forward Steve Snitch (Northern Pride) joining a Cowboys feeder team.

Bradford's George Marchant (Ipswich Jets) and Hull KR's Louis Sheriff (Redcliffe) have also signed with Queensland Cup outfits, while Bradford winger Shaun Ainscough has joined Wagga club South City Bulls and Leeds rookie Danny Bravo (Thirroul) and former Salford pair Malcolm Alker and Lewis Palfrey (Dapto) will play in the Illawarra competition.

Potter, who coached for seven seasons in England, said the exchange rate made it attractive for players from the UK to relocate to Australia to play in the NRL.

''The increased salary cap in the NRL would also make a difference,'' he said.